I get asked questions like this all the time. To answer these questions, first, you need to consider your driving routes. In town driving is not a problem, the out-of-town or commuting to work could become an issue. As of today, there is a gas station on every corner, but there is not a charging station on every corner. So, if you commute or decide to go on vacation, you need to plan your route accordingly. Also, it can take at least 30 minutes or more to charge your vehicle. So, you could be at a charging station for over an hour because you may have to wait for someone else to finish charging.
The second thing to consider is if you want to own an electric vehicle, reducing your carbon footprint is not easy to do. The batteries in electric vehicles have lithium as a main ingredient. Mining lithium out of the ground causes so much pollution that most states have outlawed the mining of lithium. Also, 60% of electricity generated in the United States is produced by fossil fuels. So, factor in how much of a carbon footprint is made every time. They mine lithium and the electricity you use to charge the car is produced by coal and natural gas. How low is your carbon footprint? It is estimated that you will need to drive an electric vehicle about 140,000 to 150,00 miles to equal the carbon footprint of a gas vehicle.
Currently, we do not produce enough electricity to charge all the vehicles if we go electric. We need to find a better way to produce enough electricity and we need to develop better batteries. So, are they worth it? That is a personal preference…both gas and electricity get the job done. I think a hybrid vehicle is a better choice. You have the best of both worlds. You can travel without having to stop and recharge for at least 30 minutes and you can also travel to town without all the wasted fuel idling and low-speed driving. When we solve the electricity problem, fix the batteries, and make charging stations more available, then I may change my mind about electric vehicles.
If you have any questions, please call us at White’s Automotive Center in Columbus, Georgia, or visit our website at https://whitesautomotive.com.
